Ernest M. Sewell CPA PA

Why You Should Ask Your Employees For Their Social Media Passwords

dannynelson — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:38 +0000

Before the House of Representatives passed the CISPA Act last month there was a last minute effort to include a provision that would explicitly ban employers from requiring their employees to hand over their social media passwords. The amendment was rejected, but it reopens the door for discussion on the topic.

Equal Credit Card Opportunity for Stay-At-Home Spouses

dannynelson — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:00:57 +0000

Do you know the rules for getting a credit card if you rely on a spouse for the income to cover the debt you incur? Since the CARD Act in 2009 stay-at-home spouses have been generally unable to qualify for consumer credit cards. However, it looks like that is all going to change with updated regulations from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The post Equal Credit Card Opportunity for Stay-At-Home Spouses appeared first on Ernest M. Sewell CPA PA.

Cyprus financial crisis boosts demand for digital dollars

dannynelson — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:14:09 +0000

They won’t make a sound no matter how many of them you try to toss in a bucket, and you can’t pitch them in a fountain and wish for good luck. But make no mistake, bitcoins are getting big.

The online alternative currency, previously little more than a curiosity in financial markets since its 2009 inception, has zoomed in trading value since the Cyprus banking crisis erupted two weeks ago.

Social Media Policy: Why You Should Have One and How to Create One

dannynelson — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:00:42 +0000

It is your job to guide your business’s online culture and protect your brand’s online persona. Provide guidelines for your employees in the form of a Social Media Policy. This written document, similar to other codes of conduct you have for employees, will let them know what type of behavior you expect from them online and any limits as to what business-related information they can share in the public stream.

Business Lessons From Mega-Entrepreneur Richard Branson

dannynelson — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:00:21 +0000

Like many entrepreneurs, Richard Branson loves creating things. He sees problems in the world and provides solutions. But unlike others, he has established many different businesses. In fact, in his 40+ years as an entrepreneur, he has developed over 100 brands.

Branson has given a lot of advice along the way. He has spoken on topics of starting a business, running a business, managing people, and hiring people. Let’s get into what he advises entrepreneurs.

Are You A Sole Proprietor? Maybe You Should Fire Yourself.

dannynelson — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:00:39 +0000

What would you do if you discovered that the secret to your success online lay in firing yourself? Would you do it?

That’s the question Alex, a freelance copywriter, had to face.

Jobless claims drop for third consecutive week

dannynelson — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:00:41 +0000

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell again last week, offering further evidence that the U.S. job market seems to be improving.

Initial jobless claims dropped by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 332,000 in the week ended March 9, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Consider introducing your employees to the IRS before it introduces them to you

dannynelson — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:00:50 +0000

The IRS wants employers to get to know their employees, if they do not know them already, and the agency has two effective tools to help them do that. The first tool, audit and enforcement, has been used for a long time; it is well-worn, and many would say the IRS is proficient in its use. The second tool, the Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP), is a bit newer, but many employers are finding it effective and preferable to the traditional audit tool. Both tools are designed to achieve worker classification that discloses a taxpayer’s employees.

Sudden Rise in Home Demand Takes Builders by Surprise

dannynelson — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:55:27 +0000

After six years of waiting on the sidelines, newly eager home buyers across the country are discovering that there are not enough houses for sale to accommodate the recent flush of demand.

“In my 27 years I’ve never seen inventories this low,” said Kurt K. Colgan, a broker with Lyon Real Estate in the Sacramento metropolitan area, where the share of homes on the market has plummeted by one of the largest amounts in the nation. “I’ve also never seen a market turn so quickly.”

U.S. Companies Stashing More Cash Abroad As Stockpiles Hit Record $1.45T

dannynelson — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:35:15 +0000

Corporate America has dramatically increased its cash piles over the past few years, stashing more and more Benjamins every year since 2007. In 2012, U.S. non-financial companies filled their coffers with an additional $130 billion, taking their total cash to a record $1.45 trillion as the economy has stagnated and the labor market has moved sideways. At the same time, a prohibitive corporate tax scheme coupled with emerging market growth have pushed U.S. firms to keep 58% of their cash, or $840 billion, overseas.